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Vertebral metastasis - colon carcinoma

Case contributed by Roberto Schubert
Diagnosis almost certain

Presentation

Patient presenting with back and right flank pain. Right hemicolectomy had been performed 1 year ago for colon cancer.

Patient Data

Age: 65 years
Gender: Male

Note: This case has been tagged as "legacy" as it no longer meets image preparation and/or other case publication guidelines.

Coronal MPR: hypervascular recurrent colon cancer in the right flank, that has metastasized to the 11th thoracic vertebra.

Magnified transverse bone window reconstruction of T11. A metastasis destroys the right pedicle and arch, but leaves the spinal canal intact. Hyperattenuation is due to vascularity, this is not an osteoblastic lesion.

Case Discussion

Abdominal CT with contrast showed a large hypervascular tumor at the former site of the primary ascending colon carcinoma and a vertebral T11 metastasis with similar enhancement. Vertebral mets from gastrointestinal tumors are rather rare and usually found in advanced cases.

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